Game device



Sept. 28, 1965 w. SIPOS 3 0 ,444

GAME DEVICE Filed Nov. 20, 1962 Walter Sipos I N VEN TOR.

BY MM 5% United States Patent 3,208,444 GAME DEVICE Walter Sipos, 108Chestnut St., Albany, N.Y. Filed Nov. 20, 1962, 'Ser. No. 238,993 3Claims. (c1. 124-4) The present invention generally relates to gamedevices, and more particularly to a game device wherein a projectile isfirst launched into the air and subsequently driven forward toward atarget area.

One of the primary objects of the present invention is to provide a gamedevice wherein the participants, which may be of any reasonable number,are required to exercise a certain degree of skill in conjunction withphysical dexterity thus providing a challenge to the participants so asto maintain their interest in the game.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of agame device which requires a certain amount of coordination between afoot and hand of the players in a manner which, aside from providing asource of entertainment, also provides a means for increasing thedexterity of the players, particularly children.

Also, an object of the present invention is to provide a game devicewhich is of interest to and playable by adults as well as children.

In conjunction with the above objects, it is also an object of thepresent invention to provide a game device which is simple inconstruction, relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and of a generallydurable nature.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter do scribed and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the game device comprising the presentinvention illustrating the manner in which the device is to be used; and

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially on aplane passing along line 22 in FIG- URE 1 illustrating the launcher inboth its lower loading position and upper discharge position.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, reference numeral isused to generally designate the game comprising the present invention,this game 10 consisting basically of four parts, a launcher 12, aprojectile 14, a striker bat 16, and a target area 18. In use, theprojectile 14 is positioned on the launcher 12 and subsequentlydischarged in a substantially vertical direction therefrom for asubsequent striking by the striker bat 16 in an effort to drive theprojectile 14 toward, and preferably into, the target zone 18.

The launcher 12, made of any suitable material such as wood, metal orplastic, consists of a flat elongated base 23*, a triangular support 22secured to the upper surface of the base and orientated transverselythereof at a point slightly forward of the transverse center line, anelongated launching platform 24 shorter in length than the base 20 andpivotally mounted on the upper apex end 26 of the support 22, and anactuating edal 28 pivotally mounted on the base to the rear of the rearend of the launching platform 24.

The launching platform 24 includes two depending ears 30 locatedopposite from each other at approximately the center of the platform-24,these ears receiving the ends of a rod 32, the center portion of whichis rotatably journaled within the apex portion 26 of the support 22,this apex portion 26 being suitably enlarged, as best seen in FIGURE 2,for the reception of the rod 32.

Adjustably mounted on the forward end of the platform 24 is an upwardlyopening receptacle 34 for receiv- 3,203,444 Patented Sept. 28, 1965 ingand holding the projectile 14 before the launching thereof. Thisreceptacle 34, consisting of two upwardly diverging side panels 36, ismounted between two oppositely positioned upwardly extending cars 38 adacent the forward end of the platform 24 by means of a transverselyextending rod 40, the ends of which are engaged through suitableapertures within the ears 38 and the central portion of which engagesthe inner surface of the bight portion formed between the lower ends ofthe diverging panels 36. The adjustment of this receptacle 34 iseffected by means of an adjusting rod 42 pivotally secured adjacent oneend of the rear panel 36 by looped rings 44 and selectively engageablewith a pin 46 projecting laterally from the adjacent side of theplatform 24, the adjusting rod 42 being provided with longitudinallyspaced recesses 48 formed in the lower portion thereof for effectingthis selective engagement with the pin 46. It will be appreciated thatthe forward end of the launching platform 24, in conjunction with thereceptacle 34, is to be of a weight greater than the rear end of theplatform 24 so as to, prior to the launching of the projectile 14,always assume the position indicated in full lines in FIGURE 2.

The actuating pedal 28 is pivotally mounted to the base 20 rearward ofthe platform 24 by a transversely extending rod 50 journaled through theenlarged rear portion 52 of the pedal 28 and having the ends thereofjournaled within opposed upwardly extending ears or tabs 54. The forwardend of the pedal 28 extends over the rear end of the platform 24 and hasdepending therefrom a socket 56 rotatably mounting a ball-bearing 58,thereby reducing to a minimum any frictional drag which may beencountered upon a sliding of the forward end of the pedal 28 over therear end of the platform 24 during the downward movement thereof. Inorder to return the pedal 28 to its upper position for a subsequentlaunching of a projectile 14, an expanded coil spring 60 is mountedbetween the upper surface of the base 26 and the lower surface of thepedal 28 forward of the pivotal connection therebetween, this coilspring 60 functioning so as to bias the pedal 28 upwardly, it thus beingreadily apparent that immediately upon a removal of the launchingpressure from the pedal 28, the spring will return the pedal 28 to itsupper position while the platform 24 is being returned to its originalposition by the greater weight of the forward receptacle containing endthereof.

The projectile 14 is preferably in the shape of a truncated cone so asto simulate a space capsule, however, it will be readily appreciatedthat the present invention also contemplates the use of any other shape,or in fact, a conventional ball.

The striker bat 16 consists of an enlarged fiat portion 62 having theprofile 64 of either a human or an animal face thereon, and an elongatedgripping handle 66 projecting from one end thereof. It is intended thatboth a simulated space capsule and a paddle having a profile thereon beused so as to further stimulate the interest of the players of the game.

The target zone or area 18, is preferably circular in nature and canconsist of a preformed peripheral member 68 or an area outlined on theplaying surface, this target zone 18 being positioned forward of theforward end of the launcher 12.

From the foregoing, it is considered readily apparent that a novel andintriguing game device has been defined wherein a projectile ispositioned within a receptacle and subsequently discharged therefrom ina substantially vertical direction by the pressure of the players footupon an actuating pedal, this pedal being orientated so as to enable theplayer to rest his heel on the playing surface during the application ofthe launching pressure so as to give the player greater control over theapplied force, it being appreciated that this force can also be appliedwith a stamping action of the foot vertically downward onto the pedal ifa greater launching force is deemed necessary. After the projectile hasbeen launched vertically, the particular angle of launching beingvariable upon an adjustment of the receptacle within which theprojectile is originally positioned, a striker bat held in the hand ofthe player is brought into contact with the pro jectile so as to drivethe projectile forwardly toward the target zone. Inasmuch as theprojectile is to be driven forward by being contacted with a striker bator paddle, it will be appreciated that this projectile be preferablymade of a resilient plastic or rubber-like material, however, othermaterials can be used if so desired.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A game device comprising an elongated flat base, an elongatedlaunching platform, a support fixed to said base and projectingthereabove beneath said launching platform, said platform beingpivotally mounted on said support, an upwardly opening, projectilereceiving receptacle secured to said platform at one end thereof, saidone end of the platform over-balancing the other end thereof so as toorientate the platform in an initial position with said one end on saidbase and the other end raised, an actuating pedal, means pivotallymounting a first end of said pedal on the base remote from and inalignment with the other end of the platform, the second end of thepedal overlying and slidably engaging the other end of the launchingplatform, a physical depressing of the pedal effecting a downwardmovement of the other end of the platform into engagement with the base,said movement resulting in a corresponding upward movement of said oneend of the platform resulting in the forceful discharge of anyprojectile therein, the second end of the pedal overlying the other endof the platform throughout its range of movement, and a springresiliently biasing said pedal upwardly so as to allow an automaticreturn of the platform to its initial position upon a removal of theforce depressing the pedal.

2. The device of claim 1 including means pivotally mounting saidreceptacle so as to vary the direction of discharge of a projectile, andmeans for releasably fixing said receptacle in any one of a plurality ofpivotally adjusted positions, said last-mentioned means consisting of anelongated adjusting member pivotally secured at one end to thereceptable, said member having a plurality of recesses spacedtherealong, and a rigid projection on the platform, said projectionbeing selectively engaged by one or another of said recesses.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the second end of the pedal includes afriction reducing means engaged with the other end of the platform.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 12/25 Krause124-4 X 8/34 Walton 27310l 5/63 Taylor 273-106 X

1. A GAME DEVICE COMPRISING AN ELONGATED FLAT BASE, AN ELONGATEDLAUNCHING PLATFORM, A SUPPORT FIXED TO SAID BASE AND PROJECTINGTHEREABOVE BENEATH SAID LAUNCHING PLATFORM, SAID PLATFORM BEINGPIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT, AN UPWARDLY OPENING, PROJECTILERECEIVING RECEPTACLE SECURED TO SAID PLATFORM AT ONE END THEREOF, SAIDONE END OF THE PLATFORM OVER-BALANCING THE OTHER END THEREOF SO AS TOORIENTATE THE PLATFORM IN AN INITIAL POSITION WITH SAID ONE END ON SAIDBASE AND THE OTHER END RAISED, AN ACTUATING PEDAL, MEANS PIVOTALLYMOUNTING A FIRST END OF SAID PEDAL ON THE BASE REMOTE FROM AN INALIGNMENT WITH THE OTHER END OF THE PLATFORM, THE SECOND END OF THEPEDAL OVERLYING AND SLIDABLY ENGAGING THE OTHER END OF THE LAUNCHINGPLATFORM, A PHYSICAL DEPRESSING OF THE PEDAL EFFECTING A DOWNWARDMOVEMENT OF THE OTHER END OF THE PLATFORM INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH THE BASE,SAID MOVEMENT RESULTING IN A CORRESPONDING UPWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID ONEEND OF THE PLATFORM RESULTING IN THE FORCEFUL DISCHARGE OF ANYPROJECTILE THEREIN, THE SECOND END OF THE PEDAL OVERLYING THE OTHER ENDOF THE PLATFORM THROUGHOUT ITS RANGE OF MOVEMENT, AND A SPRINGRESILIENTLY BIASING SAID PEDAL UPWARDLY SO AS TO ALLOW AN AUTOMATICRETURN OF THE PLATFORM TO ITS INITIAL POSITION UPON A REMOVAL OF THEFORCE DEPRESSING THE PEDAL.